Evan Rachel Wood Defends Marilyn Manson Breakup

Evan Rachel Wood is sick of the false reports circulating about why she and Marilyn Manson broke up.

“Manson and I both decided to take some time apart so we could concentrate on work. Someone used that opportunity to kick us while we were down and sell a completely false story,” the actress, 21, explains in a statement exclusively to PEOPLE.

Stories of the couple splitting in a bitter fight over Wood’s brother Ira, who had been living with the pair, getting kicked out of the guest house by Manson, 39, started popping up this week.

“Manson owns the house he lives in. My brother has never stayed there and the person that said such horrible things about Manson being ‘controlling’ and ’emotionally abusive’ is certainly no source ‘close’ to me,” Woods says. “Manson has been by my side and taken care of me through the best and worst times. I love him as a person and as an artist. I will always be proud to have been a part of that.

“If any more attacks are made on us, it is the act of a desperate, selfish person, who is angry to no longer be a part of my life. No further comment will be made and we request our privacy at this time.”